Fri, 31 Oct 2014, 14:47 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Rick Green

LAS VEGAS - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 14th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: John Cannuli No Time, Now #2
Right Lane: Bernie Harrington Runs 12.007/82.38, Now #1

Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 25 percent, barometer 27.78 inches, adjusted altitude 4,257 feet, track temperature 91 degrees.

John Cannuli is currently third in point's standing in the ANDRA Series in Australia. He is driving the Kon Rodz Racing team car while Sean Bellemeur who had been driving the car will be driving his families Funny Car this weekend. Cannuli is the Brother in-law of Pro Stock Driver Shane Tucker. He leaves before the tree is activated and he will not get a time. It looked like a good looking pass. Harrington with a lot of tire shake right off the starting line and clicked it off.

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Left Lane: Jirka Kaplan Runs 5.779/251.86, Now #2
Right Lane: Ulf Leanders Runs 5.624/259.11, Now #1

Kaplan made a quick move toward the centerline, but reeled it in to make a good pass.

Ulf and brother Jorgen are best known for the revolutionary Leanders clutch which has been used with much success in TAFC, Pro Mod and other classes both in the USA and Europe. Ulf drives and Jorgen tunes. The Leanders brothers have fielded a TAFC in Europe for several years and now in the USA; Ulf was FIA European Champion in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

Leanders was straight down the groove with a real nice pass.

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Left Lane: Terry Ruckman Runs 5.843/253.95, Now #3
Right Lane: Mike Doushgounian Runs 7.144/130.97, Now #4

Ruckman drifted out of the groove, but reeled it in and made a good clean pass. Doushgounian shook early and clicked it off.

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Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 11.641/72.04, Now #6
Right Lane: Jonnie Lindberg Runs 5.734/254.47, Now #2

Bartone with a lot of tire shake right at the hit and clicked it off.

Jonnie was 2013 FIA European Champion in Top Alcohol FC (called Top Methanol FC in Europe). Lindberg brothers Jonnie and Johan run a two-car TAFC team, both tuned by Jonnie; Johan races in Europe and is 2014 FIA European Champion. Jonnie holds the European TAFC records at 5.426/268.86.

Lindberg with a good clean pass to go to the number two spot. Jonnie Lindberg's incremental times: 60ft-1.019 sec., 330ft-2.592, 660ft-3.812/203.58 mph, 1,000ft-4.852.

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Left Lane: Greg Hunter Runs 7.523/152.85, Now #7
Right Lane: Nick Januik Runs 5.800/254.18, Now #4

Hunter's crew is dressed up as Snow White and the seven dwarves...Hunter is up in smoke right at the hit. Januik with a good clean pass.

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Left Lane: Steve Gasparrelli Runs 5.682/255.58, Now #2
Right Lane: Annie Whiteley Runs 23.326/94.14, Now #11

Gasparrelli launched hard and keep it hooked up to go to the number two spot. Steve Gasparrelli's incremental times: 60ft-0.977 sec., 330ft-2.544, 660ft-3.765/203.37 mph, 1,000ft-4.802. Whiteley with severe tire shake right at the hit and clicked it off.

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Left Lane: Sean Bellemeur Runs 5.833/251.91, Now #7
Right Lane: Brian Hough Runs 5.665/253.09, Now #2

Bellemeur driving the family Funny Car this weekend. He makes a clean pass to start the weekend. Hough with a great looking pass, straight down the groove to go to the number two spot. Brian Hough's incremental times: 60ft-0.969 sec., 330ft-2.524, 660ft-3.742/203.46 mph, 1,000ft-4.779.

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Left Lane: Doug Gordon Runs 5.770/252.19, Now #6
Right Lane: Kris Hool Runs 5.700/253.61, Now #4

These two were side-by-side all the way down the track...a couple good looking passes. Doug Gordon's incremental times: 60ft-1.012 sec., 330ft-2.606, 660ft-3.836/201.64 mph, 1,000ft-4.881.
Kris Hool's incremental times: 60ft-1.000 sec., 330ft-2.550, 660ft-3.770/203.03 mph, 1,000ft-4.813.

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Left Lane: John Lombardo Jr. Runs 5.600/260.01, Now #1
Right Lane: Shane Westerfield Runs 5.740/253.66, Now #7

Lombardo Jr. launched hard and keep it hooked up all the way down the track with the quickest and fastest pass of the session. John Lombardo Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.972 sec., 330ft-2.519, 660ft-3.716/206.86 mph, 1,000ft-4.735. Westerfield with a good clean pass to get into the top half of the show. Shane Westerfield's incremental times: 60ft-0.996 sec., 330ft-2.578, 660ft-3.810/201.25 mph, 1,000ft-4.854.

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Left Lane: Jay Payne Runs 20.495/23.60, Now #18
Right Lane: Steve Harker Runs 10.621/79.40, Now #15

Payne is up in smoke right at the hit and clicked it off. Harker with a lot of tire shake right off the starting line and he also clicks it off.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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